Spurious coin detector



Jan. 3, 1933. ROBINSON 1,892,777

SPURIOUS COIN DETECTOR Filed Aug. 17, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l WHI W )77. M4414, INVENTOR "/5 y v {67/ BY 6 W ATTORNEY Jan. 3, 1933. A. M. ROBINSON 1,892,777

' SPURIOUS COIN DETECTOR Filed Aug. 17, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 WMMM INVENTOR 2. ATTORNEY Jan. 3, 1933. A. M. ROBINSON SPURIOUS CGIN DETECTOR Filed Aug. 17. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet W #1 WW I NVENTOR BY 104W ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENTI' OFFICE ANDREW M. ROBINSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO CONSOLIDATED AUTOMATIC MERCHANDISING CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE SPURIOUS COIN DETECTOR Application filed August 17, 1929. Serial No. 386,582.

This invention pertains to a spurious coin detector adapted for use with any coin-freed mechanism or vending machine to prevent spurious coins from effecting the release thereof.

Coin detectors or spurious coin eliminators have been used heretofore, but chiefly they have comprised magnetic means for eliminating spurious coins having magnetic properties like iron and steel; means for weighing the coins and eliminating those not equal in weight to genuine coins; and means for subjecting the coins to a torsional strain and eliminating those having less resistance thereto than genuine coins. Such devices have been unsatisfactory because they did not provide for eliminating non-magnetic spurious coins having physical properties similar to those of genuine coins.

Therefore, one object of this invention is to provide a spurious coin detector that will separate genuine coins of a size for which the detector is adapted from all spurious coins and all genuine coins of a smaller size. An other object is to provide a spurious coin detector of such size and form that it may be attached to the inside of the door of any coinfreed mechanism or vending machine to pre vent spurious or small coins from reaching the releasing mechanism thereof. Still other aims and object will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustration, in which:

Fig. 1 is a reduced elevation of the front of a vending machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a larger view of the same with the front door open;

Fig. 3 is the inside of the door of Fig. 2 with an alternative form of my invention thereon;

Fig. 4.,is a side view of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 shows the shape of the pole pieces of one of the magnets and their position with relation to the horizontally disposed coin chute, and also an enlarged view of the resilient switch point;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the coin chute showing the means for reducing the area of contact between the coins and the chute;

Fig. -7 is aside view of the electromagnets of Fig. 3 having a concentrated magnetic field; and,

Fi 8 is a side view of the electromagnets of Fig. 3 having an elongated field.

One embodiment of the present invention may be that employing permanent magnets illustrated by Fig. 2; and another embodiment may be that employing electromagnets and illustrated by Fig. 3. The preferred embodiment is that employing permanent magnets because it is independent of all sources of electric current and, therefore, is more economical to maintain in operative condition.

For the purpose of showing a complete machine I have shown my spurious coin detector attached to the inside of the front door of a change making machine which is adapted to receive U. S. quarter dollars and give in exchange five nickels. After the change making machine has been freed by a coin, which has passed through the coin detector, it requires a further manual operation to complete a transaction, but it is understood that this change making machine and the means by which it is operated forms no part of this invention. It is still further understood that my spurious coin detector may be attached to or incorporated with any kind of vending machine, change making machine, coin operated turnstile, automatic sales machine, or other coin-freed mechanism where it is desirable to prevent the device from being operated or freed by spurious coins, slugs, washers, or other devices used for the purpose.

' In operating the change making machine embodying my invention a coin is inserted in a slot 10 in the front of the machine. In case the coin is rejected by the spurious coin detector it is returned to a cup 11. In case it is 4 accepted by the detector it is not returned but instead is passed on to a device 12 which is released thereby so a handle 13 on the outside of the machine may be manually operated by rotating it half a revolution in a clockwise direction. This rotary motion is imparted to an arm 14: having a lug 15 which rotates a disk 16 of a change making machine 17 thereby causing it to deliver five nickel s to the cup 100 11. The releasing mechanism of the device 12, and the change making machine 17 are already well known in the art so for the sake of simplicity and clearness will not be described here.

The operation of the alternative form of my improved coin detector having electromagnets as shown in Fig. 3, is the same as the operation of the preferred form having permanent magnets as shown in Fig. 2. Therefore, a detailed description of the construction and operation of the preferred form only will be given.

During the time when coin-freed mechanism. is in service, genuine coins, spurious coins, disks of metal, and many other articles, may be inserted in it. For the purpose of simplifying the description, all spurious coins, disks of metal, and articles other than genuine coins, will be designated slugs; and all genuine coins and all slugs will be designated coins. While these terms are used, somewhat loosely, in the art; the reason for adapting them to the description of my spurious coin detector will be apparent as it is perused.

When a coin is inserted in the coin slot 10 it enters the portion of the detector adapted for eliminating slugs of magnetic material such as iron. This iron eliminator comprises a magnet 18 over which the coin rolls. If the coin is of magnetic material such as iron it clings to or is attracted by the magnet so it rolls down the side of the magnet through an opening 19 in the bottom of a coin chute 20. When this iron slug reaches the bottom .of the magnet 18 the magnetic attraction thereof is insufiicient to support the slug so it drops into a. chute 21 which conveys it to the coin cup 11 where it is returned to the person who inserted it in the machine. In case the coin is of non-magnetic material it rolls over the magnet 18, jumps the gap 19, and passes into a chute 22. The top of the chute 20 is bent upward to form an abutment 23 opposite the coin slot 10 for the purpose of preventing a person from inserting a magnetic slug in the coin slot 10 with suificient speed to cause it to ass the magnet 18 and jump the gap 19. ne method of imparting a high speed to the inserted slug is to partially insert it in the coin slot 10 and then hit it a sharp blow thereby causing it to roll down the chute 20 so fast that the magnet 18 will not stop it. The abutment 23 opposite the coin slot 10 absorbs any artificial energy imparted to the coins so they pass through the chute 20 at the normal rate of speed.

The chute 22, which the coins enter that pass the iron eliminator, is disposed horizontall and inclined so the coins slide therethrough ing through the chute 20 which is vertically disposed and inclined. Either close to or instead of rolling as they do in pass-- substantially in contact with both the upper and under walls of the chute 22 respectively, are the elongated pole pieces 24 of a ma net 25 which is supported by a bracket 26. T ese pole pieces 26 are located at an angle to the chute 22 and, consequently, at an angle to the direction of travel of the coins passing therethrough. While this angle is dependent upon the speed of the coins and the strength of the magnetic field between the pole pieces, it is, nevertheless, not critical.

I have found that when non-magnetic coins slide through this magnetic field between the pole pieces 24 that they are deflected laterally from their line of travel various amounts according to their metallic composition. As an illustration: brass and bronze are deflected very little if any; coin silver is deflected some; copper is deflected more than coin silver; and aluminum is deflected more than bronze. I have also found that it is desirable to separate the coins between the deflections of coin silver and copper. This is accomplished by providing an opening 27 in the side of the chute 22, and by providing a separator or switch point 28 on the side of the chute. This separator 28 is provided only for the purpose of saving space as it is obvious that if the lower end of the chute 22 were long enough the deflected coins would separate themselves without the aid of this separator. Furthermore, I have found it advisable to mount this separator 28 resiliently for the purpose of reducing the rebound of the coins striking it. This is, nevertheless, dependent upon the strength of the magnetic field between the pole pieces 24 as I have found that by increasing the strength of the magnetic field therebetween the coins are deflected more and separation is effected in a smaller space and without the resiliently mounted separator.

Coins that are deflected more than those of coin silver pass out the opening 27 in the side of the chute 22 and fall into a chute 29 which returns them to the coin cup 11. Coins that are deflected only as much or less than those composed of coin silver pass on down the chute 22 and are transferred to a chute 30 which conveys them to the next portion of the detector.

The chute 30 is vertically disposed and inclined so the coins roll therethrough. Positioned close to the respective sides of the chute 30 are the magnetic pole pieces 31 of a magnet 32 that is supported by a bracket 33. I have found it desirable to concentrate the magnetic field of the magnet 32 between pole pieces having a cross section or diameter smaller than that ofthe coins for which the detector is adapted, and to position the pole pieces 31 with respect to the chute 30 so the center of the pole pieces and the center of the coins which roll therebetween are in substantial coincidence at the time the coins are opposite the pole pieces. Consequently, when part of the magnetic field of the magnet 32.

The bottom of the chute 30 underneath the pole pieces 31 is movable and hinged on a pivot 34 thereby forming a trap 35 through which certain coins may pass. The trap 35 is over-counterbalanced by a weight 36 having sufficient inertia to cause the strap to move slowly in response to the weight of a coin thereon for a purpose that will be described presently.

I have found that when coins are rolled down the chute 30 through the magnetic field of the magnet 32 that the coins are retarded by the magnetic field various amounts according to the metallic composition thereof; In the portion of the detector next prior, all coins were eliminated which were influenced more than those composed of coin silver. In this portion of the detector I eliminatethose not influenced as much as those composed of coin silver. The three magnetic portions of the detector already described will, ordinarily, eliminate all coins of a certain size not composed of coin silver but, as an added precaution, and to guard against the detector becoming clogged with coin silver coins of a smaller size than those for which it is adapted, I provide the weighted trap 35 which eliminates all coins 'which are lighter in weight than those for which the detector is adapted.

As the coins roll down the chute 30 and pass between the magnetized pole pieces 31, genuine coins for which the detector is adapted are retarded long enough to allow them to depress the trap 35 and pass downward therethrough. Coins which are not retarded as much as the genuine, although they may be of equal or greater weight, will roll over the trap 35 and pass down a chute 37 which returns them to the coin cup 11. Furthermore, all genuine coins lighter in weight than those for which the detector is adapted will roll over the trap 35 and be returned to the coin cup '11. Likewise, all non-metallic articles pass over the trap and are returned. Therefore, only genuine coins of a size and composition for which the detector is adapted will depress the trap and pass down into the releasing mechanism 12 of the machine with which the spurious coin detector is incorporated.

Frequently coins which are inserted in a coin-freed mechanism are coated with water, saliva, oil, or other substance intended to retard their progress through the machine. To prevent such coated coins from being retarded while passing through my spurious coin detector I provide the detector with coin chutes having the walls thereof partially cut away so only a small amount of the surface thereof comes in contact with the coins pass:

ing therethrough. A cross section of one of my coin chutes is shown in Fig. 6 having two projections 38 adapted for making contact with one side of the coin, and two overhanging edges 39 adapted for making contact with the other. It is understood that more than two of the projections 38 may be employed, and that the edges 39 may project over the edges of the coin either more or less than those shown. The space between the overhanging edges 39 provides convenient access to the inside of the chute for the purpose of manually forcing coins out of the chute which have become stuck therein from any cause whatsoever.

In the alternative form of my spurious coin detector shown in Fig. 3, the permanent magnet 25 is replaced by an electromagnet 40 having windings 41 respectively connected to the pole pieces 24 and joined by a yoke 42.-

This magnet is energized by electric current conducted thereto by wires 43 which are attached to a distributing terminal block 44 which, in turn, is connected to a suitable source of supply by the wires 45.

Likewise, the permanent magnet 32 is replaced by an electromagnet 46 having windings respectively connected to the pole pieces 31 and joined by a yoke 48. This magnet 46 is energized by electric current conducted thereto from the terminal block 44 by the conductors 49.

In the alternative form of the detector it is possible for the current energizing the magnets 40 and 46 to become disconnected during the time the machine is in operation. This results only in causing the coin detector to reject all coins and return them to the coin cup 11 regardless of whether they are genuine or not.

The action of the coin detector when the magnets 40 and 46 are not energized is to pass all coins, notreturned to the coin cup 11 by the magnet 18, through the chute 22 into the chute 30 where they roll over the trap 35 and are returned to the coin cup 11 by the chute 37 because there is no magnetic field between the pole pieces 31 to retard the movement of the genuine ones and give them sufficient time to depress the trap 35 and pass into the releasing mechanism 12.

It is understood that the form of the component parts of my spurious coin detector may be altered and equivalent materials from which they are made may be substituted one for the other. Also, the arrangement of the component parts may be varied as well as the number and arrangement of the various units. For instance: two or more of either of the magnets 25 or 32 mav be employed either in combinations of like kinds or mixed kinds as I have found that my coin detector will give satisfactory results when two or more of the magnets 25 are employed, or when two or combination and arrangement shown herein tracted thereby; means for setting up a magis because it may be manufactured at a lower cost and assembles in less space. Therefore, these and other modifications and arrangements may be made in the device shown herein without departing from the invention or sacrificing any of the rights thereunder.

I claim:

1. A spurious coin detector comprising a magnet having an elongated magnetic field; a coin chute passing through said magnetic field; and a resiliently mounted switch point so positioned relative to said chute and said magnetic field that coins passing through said chute are se arated by said switch oint according to t e amount they are de ected by said magnetic field.

2. A spurious coin detector comprising means for producing a magnetic field; a coin chute; and a resiliently mounted switch point so positioned in relation to said coin chute and said magnetic field that coins passing through said chute are separated by said switch point according to the amount they are deflected by said magnetic field.

3. The combination in a coin detector of an inclined chute through which coins are compelled to slide on their flat sides so as to set up, an appreciable amount of retarding .friction, means setting up a magnetic field passing transversel through the chute substantially in the vicinity of its lower end, and means for separating coins laterally of their line of travel through the chute according to the amount of deflection by the magnetic field.

4:. In a coin detector the combination of means for afiording rolling motion of coins over a gap, a magnet for drawing spurious coins of magnetic material through said gap, a chute of the approximate size of the received coins having its wide parallel sides inclined so that coins passing the gap will slide over the lower wide side of the chute and be frictionally retarded in their passa a therethrough, a magnet embracing the c ute and having its pole pieces projecting oppositely through the wide sides thereof to produce a magnetic field transversely through the chute near its lower end, and means for separating the coins laterally of their line of travel through the chute according to the amount deflected by said magnetic field.

5. The combination in a spurious coin detector of means for producing a magnetic field; means for sliding coins through said magnetic field and then separating said coins according to the amount they are deflected thereby; means for producing a second magnetic field; and means for rolling said coins through said second magnetic field and then separating said coins according to the amount they are retarded thereby.

6. The combination in a spurious coin detector of magnetic means for rolling coins 'rer said magnet which eliminates those atnetic field; means for affording sliding movements of coins not previously eliminated through said magnetic field which eliminates those deflected more than a certain amount thereby; means for producing an additional magnetic field; and means for affording rolling movements of those coins not previously eliminated through said additional magnetic field which eliminates those not retarded a certain amount thereby.

7. The combination in a spurious coin detector of means for separating spurious from good non-magnetic coins, comprising means for producing an elongated magnetic field; devices for sliding said coins through said elongated magnetic field at an angle thereto and eliminating those deflected more than a certain amount thereby; means for producing an additional magnetic field, and means for rolling the coins not eliminated through said additional magnetic field and eliminating those not retarded a certain amount thereby.

8. The combination in a spurious coin detector of means for eliminating spurious coins that are magnetic; means for producing a magnetic field, means for eliminating the remaining non-magnetic coins that are deflected more than a certain amount in sliding through said magnetic field; and means for eliminating the remaining coins that are below a certain weight and are not retarded a certain amount.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

ANDREW M. ROBINSON. 

